Sevens star Ruhan says WP is a stepping stone to the Boks
RUHAN Nel is on the hunt to reach another Springbok dream, this time in the 15-man code.
The Springbok Sevens star joined Western Province ahead of their Currie Cup campaign, which they kicked off with a massive 32-0 victory over the Free State Cheetahs last Saturday.
WP mentor John Dobson has spoken about the “special” Nel a number of times, and given his stand-out performances with WP in the SuperSport Challenge and Currie Cup last season, it’s not too hard to see why Dobson rates him so highly.
It’s his outstanding defensive know-how, his passing game, his ability to spot and create space and the way he can seamlessly transform from an attacking weapon into a more straight or direct midfielder that makes him an attractive, versatile option.
“I’ve signed with Province and the Stormers so that will be my only focus from now on,” Nel said.
“Short-term I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Currie Cup is a good place to do that before we hit Super Rugby next year. I’m trying to convert completely into that Fifteens mentality.”
“It’s a dream of everybody to wear that green and gold. That is probably one of the biggest reasons I left Sevens, to concentrate on Fifteens because I enjoyed last season with Province so much.”
After a busy year on the Sevens calendar, Nel said that it wasn’t too hard getting back into Fifteens.
And while the 27-year-old knows that it won’t be as easy as walking in and claiming a spot given the depth WP have, especially at centre, it was clear that he and his Sevens mates aren’t scared of putting in the hard work. Not at all.
“Last year me, Seabelo (Senatla) and Werries (Werner Kok) would do a session or two and then afterwards we would feel that we still have one or two things left to do, so we would do an extra running session or whatever the case may be.”
“The last four years have been Sevens, obviously last year I played a bit of Currie Cup, so there are guys out there with much more experience, guys who know the game a bit more, a bit longer.”
“It is just learning as much as possible, just growing as much as possible in the position they want me in and to work on that craft and to be the best in that position as well.”
Able to play on the wing, at centre and fullback, Nel explained while his best position is outside centre, he doesn’t mind playing out wide.
“I enjoy wing just as much. In Sevens there is a lot of space where you learn to make good reads quickly otherwise you will be exposed.
“I think that is why I like it so much, because I can almost relate to it coming from the Sevens as well. Playing centre you only have a wing 15 metres left of you and 15 metres right of you there is another guy. In sevens that is always the channel they try and target, so you need to make good reads from centre”